The bus ride home was solemn as Jennifer's brain burned itself with introspection. Walking into her house she saw her mother already preparing dinner as the television played. A movie she recognized, except all the actors were now different animals.
"Hey sweet-rings, how was school today?" Her mom asked as she began to slice an onion.
"It's was, uh interesting." Jennifer stated, her voice dejected. She sat down at the table. As she watched her mom work her mouth seemingly moved on its own to ask "Mom, are you...happy?" Her mother stopped and turned around, her face appearing concerned. "Why are you asking? Of course I'm happy." Jennifer squirmed at the awkwardness. "I meant like with this." She gestured around. "With this reality, you, everything."
Her mom raised her brow. "I don't know what you mean, it's always been like this." She said mimicking her daughters gesture with the tip of the knife in her hand. "Are things perfect? Of course not, but nothing can be, you always work with what you have." She walked over and bent down to kiss Jennifer's head, her ear bending down on it's own to cater to her mom's kiss. "Except for you sweet-rings, you're perfect just the way you are."
Jennifer giggled as she moved away, "Aw, thanks, I just got asked a serious question today and I just wanted to know what you thought was all." Her mother returned to the counter as she responded. "I don't know what those teachers are asking you these days, if that's the kind of questions you're bringing home."
Jennifer laughed to the aside. She didn't want to tell her mom it wasn't from a teacher, but apparently a boy who also knew about her situation and that this whole reality wasn't the original. She'd probably think Jennifer was just crazy.
Dinner was very different, the food seemed fresh and lively, as if it were picked from a garden that day, a mixture of cabbage, onions and mixed peppers and potatoes, all fried in olive oil with a generous portion of salmon with a light but crispy breading over it. Jennifer couldn't remember eating like this before, this was something out of a restaurant not a freezer. Jennifer closed her eyes as the idea of either embracing or trying to fix this world was the right call. On one hand, everything did seem better, but, it wasn't her real life, and someone else out there knew it, and clearly wasn't happy. Is this world worth sacrificing the old one?
Her mom cut off her train of thought as she tapped the table. "Oh, Jennifer, don't forget you need to start taking your pills tonight so they'll start to have an effect by Friday." Jennifer did a double take as she blinked. "What do you mean?"
Her mother nonchalantly continued as she ate. "For the spring breeding season, you know everyone can't control themselves, unless you want to get pregnant." Her mother glared. "Which you don't." Jennifer nearly spit out her food, but thankfully was able to swallow. "Mom!?!"
She smiled back, "What? You're acting like you've never heard about it before, don't tell me there's some fad against it now."
"No no, it's just I had completely forgotten about it." Jennifer recoiled. She hastily finished dinner and placed her dishes in the sink before running up to her room. Sure enough on her bathroom counter laid a small bottle. She thumbed a claw over the label. Nulcreatacin. She had never saw it before, it seemed to be as advertised, a simple birth prevention pill able to be used across nearly all species, an impressive feat Jennifer assumed given how biology must have changed.
The revelation cemented in her mind that it would probably be best to avoid it, as Kyle asked. She had no intention of joining a orgy, or worse, her mind losing itself to making her want it instead.
She put the bottle back down, she didn't take a pill. "I just gotta go back and see what I can do to fix this." She said to herself in the mirror, the raccoon expression still put her off, uncanny almost. She could recognize it was her, but still knew what she really looked like, without a muzzle or fur.
Returning to her bedroom she got ready for bed and nestled quickly into her covers. Tomorrow she atleast had a goal.